Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or elements relating to Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.
Miraculous: Borderline
Chapter 21: Dark Wings, Rise
Cat Noir leaped through Paris's streets faster than he'd ever gone before.
"Come on, Cat Noir," he cajoled himself. "Go faster. Marinette's in danger."
Cat Noir landed on a building spire and tried to catch his breath as he struggled to orient himself. He recognized the neighborhood, of course, but was trying to figure out why Stoneheart would come here.
Why would he come to my father's mansion?
Cat Noir had a really bad feeling about this.
Finally, he spotted Ivan Bruel standing at the doors to the Agreste mansion, looking dazed and confused.
"Ivan!"
Cat Noir leapt down from the roof onto the streets.
Ivan ran towards him. "Cat Noir! I think you need to go inside!"
Cat Noir nodded and started running up the mansion's marble steps. He suddenly halted mid-step, one hand on his miraculous staff.
"Wait—What do you know about what just happened?" Cat Noir asked.
His emerald eyes were narrowed, his heart pounding like he'd just wrestled a lion. He had a gist of what was going on but needed Ivan to confirm it.
Ivan shook his head, his face pale. "I don't really know. I'm sorry, I couldn't control my emotions. The akuma got me and—and I don't know what happened after that but I know Marinette's in there. Hawk Moth released me from his akuma for some reason."
Cat Noir sucked in a breath. Hawk Moth never released people from an akumatization.
What was going on?
What was he doing to Marinette?
Ivan looked devastated. "Marinette shouldn't be a part of any of this. She shouldn't get hurt because of me."
Cat Noir nodded. "Don't worry, Ivan. I'll take care of this. It's not your fault."
Cat Noir swallowed and added, "Marinette's all right, I'm sure."
I hope.
Cat Noir sprinted up the rest of the steps and burst in through the broken double doors of the mansion. He ran through every room in the house but found no trace of Marinette or Hawk Moth.
Cat Noir paused in his father's study, the portrait of his mother catching his attention.
What if…?
Cat Noir slowly approached the painting. His mouth was dry and his heart had leaped up into his throat. He knew he had to face the truth sooner rather than later, but his body wanted to be as far away from here as possible.
Cat Noir fought his instinct and reached up to lightly stroke the picture of his mother. His fingers felt the smooth film of the paint and stopped at a part that felt smoother than the rest.
The triggers.
Cat Noir pressed down, and the floor opened up behind him, revealing a circular platform.
Cat Noir took a deep breath. His limbs felt shaky and his mind was clouded with doubts and suspicions, but he managed to clear his head enough to get his thoughts straightened out.
Get in there. Defeat Hawk Moth. Protect Marinette.
Cat Noir stepped up onto the platform and was whisked down.
When the platform stopped moving, Cat Noir had to blink several times before he realized that the lair was devoid of light.
No problem. I have night vision.
His eyes quickly scanned the chamber. There was nothing on his end, but he saw an iron bridge leading to a little area on the other side of the lair that was filled with plants and two odd-looking coffins.
Cat Noir began to shake. His mind seemed to freeze, and for a moment, he had a flashback of his mother stroking his hair and holding him, telling him it'd be alright. It was the time after he'd lost a fencing match and had been besides himself.
His mother. Emilie Agreste.
Father, what have you done?
Cat Noir drew in a shaky breath and started stepping forward, onto the bridge. The lights suddenly clicked on, all at once, and for a moment, Cat Noir halted as the sudden brightness blinded his eyes.
"Arrgh!"
The yell was the only thing that kept Cat Noir from not getting impaled. Hawk Moth had stepped out from the darkness and deftly thrust his rapier at Cat Noir's back. Cat Noir barely managed to step aside in time and was struck off-balance by Hawk Moth's next strike to the knees.
Cat Noir tumbled down the iron bridge, hitting the railing hard enough with his head for him to see sparks behind his eyes.
Cat Noir groaned, then gasped and rolled aside as Hawk Moth's rapier striked the iron grating where he'd been just seconds before. Sparks flew as metal hit upon metal.
"Don't bother running, Cat Noir," Hawk Moth said calmly. He drew the rapier across the metal railing of the bridge, creating a harsh scraping sound. "You're stuck down here until I get your miraculous."
Cat Noir backed up, his eyes narrowing. He clenched a hand into a fist and drew the other arm back to grasp his miraculous staff.
"You're not getting my miraculous," Cat Noir growled in reply. "And I'm not running."
In one swift move, Cat Noir leaped upwards, avoiding Hawk Moth's strike, then swung his staff out, catching Hawk Moth in the temple. Hawk Moth stumbled back, clutching his head for a moment.
Cat Noir landed lightly on the railing, crouched in a ready position, his chest heaving.
Hawk Moth snarled and leapt forward, his rapier extended. Cat Noir leapt clear, but Hawk Moth suddenly changed direction, his rapier slicing Cat Noir's arm.
The weapon cut through Cat Noir's costume and lanced his skin, causing him to cry out and drop his staff.
Hawk Moth's fist crashed into Cat Noir's face, and Cat Noir crumpled to the floor.
"Finally," Hawk Moth said, his voice low and threatening.
Hawk Moth bent down and grasped Cat Noir's hand. Cat Noir reached back for his staff but it was already too late.
Hawk Moth yanked off the ring and Adrien gasped as his costume disappeared and Plagg reappeared in lightning sparks.
"W-what?" Plagg stuttered as he saw Hawk Moth clutching the miraculous ring of destruction.
Plagg stared dumbfoundedly at Adrien, who lay on his back, gasping from pain in his back, shoulders, and arms.
"Plagg," Adrien said weakly.
Plagg zipped over to Adrien and hovered over him protectively. "You won't get near him!" Plagg cried defiantly to Hawk Moth. "You'll have to defeat me first!"
Hawk Moth started chuckling humorlessly. "You fool. I'm not here to hurt Adrien."
Hawk Moth slowly reached up to touch the miraculous pinned to his suit. "Nooroo," he commanded, "Dark wings, fall!"
Hawk Moth's costume disappeared from the feet up. His black shoes were replaced with dress shoes, his dark pants were replaced with immaculately pressed red pants, and his tuxedo jacket was replaced with a cream dress jacket.
Adrien choked. "Father?"
Gabriel Agreste opened his slate-blue eyes. "Yes, Adrien." His eyes were hard and cold as he gave his son an unreadable stare. "It's me.
"Your father."
End of Chapter 21: Dark Wings, Rise